With the cost of solar installations rapidly declining, and the
number of government and utility incentives increasing, solar has
undergone a radical evolution from a feel good environmental story
to a source for businesses to gain a financial advantage over their
competitors.

Southern Power, a leading U.S. wholesale energy provider and
subsidiary of Southern Company, today announced that it has entered
an agreement to sell the Mankato Energy Center to Xcel Energy for
$650 million.

Mankato, a natural gas combined-cycle generation facility, will have
a maximum capacity of approximately 760 megawatts upon completion of
an ongoing expansion project. The completion of the sale, subject to
regulatory approval and other closing conditions, is expected to be
mid-2019.

“The Mankato Energy Center is a valuable part of the local community
and the regional energy infrastructure,” said Southern Power
President and CEO Mark Lantrip. “This transaction is a great
opportunity to deliver value for the benefit of Southern Company
shareholders.”

Proceeds from this transaction will be used to strengthen the
balance sheet of Southern Company and position Southern Power to
continue providing clean, safe, reliable and affordable wholesale
energy to its customers across the U.S, including the expansion of
one of the nation’s largest carbon-free renewable energy portfolios.

Two small county family plot variances at ZBOA this afternoon, one in an agricultural zone,
the other in the Moody Activity Zone near Moody AFB.
And today they vote on who will be Chair and Vice-Chair next year,
as well as on their calendar of meetings.

Thanks to ZBOA member Gretchen Quarterman, here is the
agenda and board packet,
in which you can see where these variances are being requested, who is requesting them, and why.

Greater Lowndes Planning Commission
Lowndes County
City of Valdosta
City of Dasher
City of Hahira
City of Lake Park
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING
AGENDA
Monday, October 29, 2018 * 5:30 P.M. * Public Hearing
Lowndes County South Health District Administrative Office
325 West Savannah Avenue

If not consistent with the Comprehensive Plan, nor with the water and sewer growth plan,
fire and rescue doesn’t want it, and the Planning Commission recommended rejecting it,
what does it take for the Lowndes County Commission to reject a zoning,
in this case for
REZ-2018-17 for
The Settlement North, 5999 Val Del Road?

Only three people were allowed to speak against, of the five whose hands went up.

The developer promised restrictive covenants enforced by nobody but the homeowners.
County-imposed conditions on the Nelson Hill development, also on Val Del, were largely waived by county staff without public hearings.
What promises should we believe?

Will the developer’s demand to ignore the Comprehensive Plan
because of “market conditions, supply and demand” prevail?
Do property values of neighbors not matter?
How about saddling the county school system with houses priced too low
for property taxes on them to cover expenses of sending school buses?
Or is profit for a few all that matters?

The 16” force main between Coleman Road lift station and James
Road has experienced repeated issues with pipe failure. Several
repairs have been made on one section near 3624 Val-Tech Road. After
detecting another pipe failure along this section staff recommends
we replace a 400′ section of the 16” force main. This is an
emergency and needs to happen ASAP to prevent a sewage spill. Staff
received a quote from RPI for $99,935.00. Staff recommends the
emergency repair be approved for $99,935.00 from RPI.

I think everyone would be in favor of fixing
that recurring leak,
near the green dot at the top of this map.